words - What is the origin of shul? - Mi Yodeya 5 This is just a guess, but in Hebrew a 'shul' is called a 'Beit Keneset' (a house of gathering) My guess is that in the old times, the place of gathering is where Jews would pray and teach Even today, many shuls double as a beit midrash (house of teaching) Secondly, the word school itself, didn't always mean a place of learning
halacha - When is a mechitza required for separation between men and . . . If men are davening in a shul at a time when there is no minyan, it would seem that a mechitza is needed if women are present (one or two women are likely not a problem (see ibid ; Ishei Yisrael 9:28)) After all, they are davening and the shul has sanctity that elevates tefilla even without a minyan (see Shulchan Aruch, OC 90:9)
english - What is the difference between a temple, a synagogue, and a . . . A synagogue (Yiddish: shul, Hebrew: ''bet knesset'') is an Orthodox or Conservative house of prayer A temple is a Reform house of prayer To Orthodox Jews, the Temple refers to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem Reform Jews believe that nowadays the synagogues have taken the place of the Temple, so that's why they call it that A congregation usually refers to the people who make up the general
Is there a halachic problem with wearing shorts while davening? Applying this "would you meet the head of state in these clothes" standard is difficult as a practical matter If I were meeting the President, I would wear a suit Must I wear a suit every single day of my life? I have been to synagogues which will not allow people wearing shorts to lead the davening, but don't throw them out of shul
Changeable page number sign for shul - Mi Yodeya In the shul (synagogue) I went to growing up, and in other shuls I've been to, they had a device for displaying the current page number It was a wall-mounted box with three windows, behind each of
Is it acceptable for a Gentile to attend a service at a Synagogue . . . It is best if someone comes with you from a shul that you want to attend Best ask before hand If I have a question, I normally apologize for asking, say that I would like to ask something and, sorry, I may not know how to ask or act, so please clarify it for me
Sources for when we change the Parochet to white 3 It is customary to change the Parochet, Torah covers, and some other items in the shul to white for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and it is common practice to keep the white covers up until after Simchat Torah (The exact time for switching back has been discussed in several other questions
What is the origin for Reform to call their synagogues a Temple? Furthermore, there is a Reform view that the shul or synagogue is a modern Temple; hence, "Temple" appears in numerous congregation names in Reform Judaism Indeed, the re-designation of the synagogue as "temple" was one of the hallmarks of early Reform in 19th century Germany, when Berlin was declared the new Jerusalem And in Synagogues